Musical instrument system



F. HESS MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM March l2, 1957 Filed Oct. 5. 1953 .L I ...Jw- /w/ m Mw K 3 M vv/.w/vwwn uw f5 N fan A VIIIL H 3 JmI l m D il W M/ Hl Unite States Patent O MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM Frank Hess, North Bergen, N. .L

Application October 5, 1953, Serial No. 384,235

Claims. (Cl. 84u17!) This invention relates generally to musical instruments, and more particularly to a musical instrument system comprising a plurality of different musical instruments and a system for simultaneously controlling them.

The principal object of this invention is to combine a plurality of different musical instruments in such fashion that they can be simultaneously controlled and played by a single musician.

Another object of this invention is to provide a control system for a plurality of different musical instruments of such character that a` single musician can simultaneously play various combinations of such instruments.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a musical instrument system consisting of a plurality of different musical instruments and a control system incorporated in one of the said instruments, whereby all of them may be played simultaneously in various combinations.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and following descrip tion and claims.

Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of musical instruments and a control system for playing them.

Fig. 2 is a detail illustrating the keyboard control circuit for controlling the vibraharp illustrated in Fig. 1 from the keyboard of the organ illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a portion of the keyboard control circuits in the organ shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the mechanical linkage for controlling the valves on the accordions shown in Fig. 1.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a musical instruments system comprising an electrical organ 19 at the ends of which are mounted a pair of accordions 11 and 12. A vibraharp 14 may be electrically connected by a multiconductor cable 15 and switch 13 to the upperkeyboard 16 of organ 10. A Zither 18 may be connected by a switch 17 and a multiconductor cable 19 to the lower keyboard 2l) of organ 10. The details of these connections will be described subsequently.

The accordions 11 and 12 are operated by means of a suction blower 21, the suction end of which is connected to the accordions by means of the pipes 22, 23 and 24. When the suction blower 21 is operated, air is drawn through the reeds of the accordions 11 and 12, whereby the valves of each reed may be operated by the respective keys of the accordions to produce the desired notes.

For energizing the motor (not shown) of the blower 21, there is provided an electrical switch 25 connected by conductors 26 to said motor and mounted on the lower side of accordion 12 for convenient access by the musician while he is sitting at the organ 10. Blower 21 may be provided with a muller 27 having conventional construction of the type, for example, well known in automobile muirlers, thereby to eliminate noise of blower ICC 21 and prevent interference with the musical output of the instruments.

For playing the vibraharp 14, keyboard 16 may be arranged as illustrated in Fig. 2 where each key 29 includes at its inner end a contact actuating spring 3l) adapted to close the contacts 31. Closure of contacts 31 may energize, through switch 13, conductors 32, and transformer 38, the solenoids 33 which in turn actuate the magnetic slug members 34 mounted within solenoids 33 by any suitable and well known mounting structure 35. Each key 29 in keyboard 16 may be arranged to operate a pair of contacts 31 and energize one of the solenoids 33, thereby to strike the bars 36 of the vibraharp in whatever sequence the particular musical cornposition requires. Fig. 3 illustrates several switches 31 and solenoids 33 in vibraharp 14 and Zither 18 whereby the electrical connections will be obvious.

The Zither 18 may be energized through switch 17, transformer 32 and conductors 19 by means of the lower keyboard 2) which is equipped with contacts 31 in the same manner as described above in connection with keyboard 16. Thus, the keys 29 in keyboards 16 and 2t? operate organ 10 in conventional manner and simultaneously operate vibraharp 14 and the Zither 18. In order to provide selective energization of the circuits energizing vibraharp 14 and Zither 1S, switches 13 and 17 are provided in the circuits of each instrument for energizing those circuits as desired. For supplying power to these circuits there is provided a transformer 33 connected to a wall plug 39 by conductors 40.

For controlling the volume of the accordions 11 and 12 there is provided a knee operated iever 42 connected by a mechanical linkage 43 to a pivoted flap valve 44 on each accordion. Valve 44 is mounted on a rod 45 rotatably mounted in eye members 46 fastened to the back boards of the accordions. Rods 45 may be fixed to the mechanical linkages 43, whereby movement of knee lever 42 opens the valves to varying degrees, there by varying the degree of suction on the reeds of the accordion.

While the drawings show only a vibraharp and a Zither connected to the keyboards of the organ, it is possible that other instrument may also be connected to various keys of the keyboard of the organ. For example, hongo drums may be connected to contacts operated by certain keys of the organ, whereby they may be played in conjunction with the organ or the other instruments. Wood knockers may also be connected to other keys of the organ. Other instruments too numerous to mention may also be incorporated in this invention.

The musical instrument system provided in accordance with this invention may be operated by lirst playing the organ, for example, and then switching on the blower 21 to energize the accordions. The organ may be played with one hand, while an accordion may be played with the other hand, the volume of the accordions being controlled by lever 42 and the linkage 43 connecetd thereto. Also, the accordions may both be played simultaneously, or the Zither and vibrahaip may be connected by switches 13 and 17 so that they may be played separately or in combination with one another and the organ.

The invention claimed is:

1. A musical instrument system comprising an organ having a plurality of keyboards, each keyboard including a bank of electrical switching contacts operably connected to each key, a first solenoid operated musical instrument including solenoids connected to the contacts of one keyboard, a second solenoid operated musical instrument including solenoids connected to the contacts of another of said keyboards, a master control switch mounted adjacent each said keyboard and connected in circuit with the bank of contacts of that keyboard for controlling operation of said instruments by said keyboards, a pair of accordions mounted adjacent said keyboards, power means including a blower having tubes connected to said accordions for drawing air through the reeds of said accordions,V a knee operated volume control for said accordions including aV knee operated lever located beneath said keyboards and valves on said accordions connected to said lever for controlling the amount of air drawn through said accordions, switch means mounted adjacent said keyboards and connected to said power means for energizing it, and a source of electrical power connected in circuit with said solenoid circuits and said power means.

2. A musical instrument system comprising an organ having a plurality of keyboards, each keyboard including a bank ot' electrical switching contacts operably connected to each key, a first musical instrument including electromagnets connected to the contacts of one keyboard, a second musical instrument including electromagnets connected to the contacts of another of said keyboards, a master control switch mounted adjacent each said keyboard and connected in circuit with the bank contacts of that keyboard for controlling operation of said instruments by said keyboards, a pair of accordions mounted adjacent said keyboards, power means including a blower having tubes connected to said accordions for drawing air through the reeds of said accordions, a knee volume control for said accordions, including a knee operated lever located beneath said keyboards and valves on said accordions connected to said lever for controlling the amount of air drawn through said accordions, switch means mounted adjacent said keyboards and connected to said power means for energizing it, and a source of electrical power connected in circuit with said electromagnet circuits and said power means. Y

3. A musical instrument system comprising an organ aving a keyboard, a bank of electrical switching contacts operably connected to each key of said keyboard, a musical instrument including electromotivc means connected to the contacts of said keyboard, a control switch mounted adjacent said keyboard and connected in circuit with said bank of contacts for controlling operation of said instrument by said keyboard, an accordion mounted adjacent said keyboard, power means including a blower having a tube connected to said accordion for Ydrawing air through the recds of said accordion, a knee operated volume control for said accordion including a knee operated lever located beneath said keyboard and calves on said accordion connected to said lever for controlling the amount of air drawn through said accordion, switch means mounted adjacent said keyboard and connected to said power means for energizing it, and a source of electrical power connected in circuit with said electromotive means and said power means.

4. A musical instrument system comprising an organ having a plurality of keyboards, cach keyboard including a bank of electrical switching contacts operably connected to each key, a first solenoid operated musical instrument including solenoids connected to the contacts of one keyboard, a second solenoid operated musical instrument including solenoids connected to the contacts of another of said keyboards, master control switch mounted adjacent each said keyboard and connected in circuit with the bank of contacts of that keyboard for controlling operation of said instruments by said keyboards, and a source of electrical power connected in circuit with said solenoid circuits.

y 5. A musical instrument for operative association with an organ having a keyboard comprising, an accordion mounted adjacent said keyboard, power means including a blower having a tube connected to said accordion for drawing air through the reeds of said accordion, and a muiiicr for silencingthe exhaust of lsaid blower, a knee operated volume control for said accordion including a knee operated lever mounted on said organ and a valve on said accordion connected to said lever for controlling the amount of air drawn through said accordion, switch means mounted adjacent said keyboard and connected to said power means for energizing it, and a source of electrical power connected in circuit with said power l'llClIlS.

6. A musical instrument for operative association with an organ comprising, a pair of accordions mounted in spaced relation to one another on said organ, each accordion including a hinged flap valve mounted on the back thereof for opening and closing the air chambers in said accordions7 a blower having tubes connected to said accordions for drawing air through the reeds thereof, a mutlier connected to the exhaust of said blower for eliminating the noise thereof, a knee controlled mechanical linkage including a knee operated lever mounted on said organ and connected to said llap valves for controlling the volume of said accordions, and switch means connected to said blower for energizing it when it is desired to play said accordions.

7. A mustical instrument Vfor operative association with an organ comprising, a pair of accordions mounted in spaced relation to one another on said organ, each accordion including a valve for opening and closing the air chambers in said accordions, a blower having tubes connected to said accordions for drawing air through the reeds thereof, a knee controlled mechanical linkage inciuding a knee operated lever mounted on said organ and connected to said valves for controlling the volume of said accordions, and switch means connected to said blower' for energizing it when it is desired to play said accordions.

8. A musical instrument for operative association with an organ comprising, an accordion mounted on said organ, a hinged llap valve mounted on the back thereof for opening and closing the air chamber in said accordion, a biower having a tube connected to said accordion for drawing air through the reeds thereof, a muriler connected to exhaust of said blower for eliminating the noise thereof, a knee controlled mechanical linkage including a knee operated lever mounted on said organ and connected to said ap valve for controlling the volume of said accordion, and switch means connected to said blower for energizing it when it is desired to play said accordion.

9. A musical instrument or operative association with another instrument comprising, an accordion mounted on said other instrument, a valve mounted on the back of said accordion for opening and closing the air chamber in said accordion, a blower having tubos connected to said accordion for drawing air through the reeds thereof, a knee controlled mechanical linkage mounted on said other instrument and connected to said valve for controlling the volume of said accordion, and switch means connected to said blower for energizing it when it is desired to play said accordions.

l0. A musical instrument for operative association with another instrument comprising, an accordion mounted on said other instrument, said accordion including a valve for opening and closing the air chamber in said accordion, a blower having a tube connected to said accordion for drawing air through the reeds thereof, and a muier conected to the exhaust of said blower for eliminating the noise thereof, and a knee operated lever mounted on said other instrument and connected to said valves for controlling the volume for said accordion.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,233,148 von Rein July 1e, 1917 1,347,977 Weber July 27, 1920 1,852,066 Schwarz Apr. 5, 1932 2,588,617 Degan Mar. ll, 1952 w41, mi 

